Talk about perfect casting: Outrageous British comic Sacha Baron Cohen will play outrageous Brit rocker Freddie Mercury in a biopic about the Queen frontman set to film next year, reports Deadline.com.

Mercury, known for his soaring vocals and flamboyant stage presence, helped make Queen one of the biggest bands of the '70s and '80s with hits like "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are the Champions" and "We Will Rock You." He died from AIDS-related complications at age 45 in 1991.

Reports that Cohen, 38, would play the singer first surfaced in 2007, though the actor's rep shot down the rumors at the time. GK Films, which is heading up the project, now confirms that the "Borat" and "Bruno" star is on board. Screenwriter Peter Morgan, who previously wrote scripts for "The Queen" and "The Last King of Scotland," is ready to take on music royalty for the film.

GK Films' Graham King said in a statement, “Queen is one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and a music brand all unto itself. Freddie Mercury was an awe-inspiring performer, so with Sacha in the starring role coupled with Peter’s screenplay and the support of Queen, we have the perfect combination to tell the real story behind their success.”

Music rights for the band's songs have already been acquired, and Deadline reports that it's not yet known whether Cohen will do his own singing or whether Mercury's vocals will be used.

Cohen, however, did prove he could belt out a tune with the best of them in "Sweeney Todd," the 2007 musical starring Johnny Depp, who, coincidentally, was also once rumored to be playing Mercury on screen.

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I would like to clarify one important fact that some people here are not understanding. Freddie Mercury was born from Parsi-Indian parents. He wasn't persian and he didn't speak Farsi. He has no cultural or biological ties to Iran. His birth certificate clearly states that his ethnicity his parsi-Indian. He was very much Indian the same way a Hindu was. He wore Indian attire, loved Indian food, and was influenced by Indian music. Parsis are not persian at all since they fled Iran thousands of years ago. Since then, contrary to myth, they infact intermingled with Indian stock thus eliminating any genetic ties to persia. To insinuate that he is persian is ignorant. If you want to trace your ancestors than we are all Africans, right? That logic would be applicable if taken to its logical conclusion. I don't know why Iran is even in conversation when pertaining to Freddie.

for those who say he was from morroco or madagascar or india you're all idiots. he was from an island off the east coast of africa called "Zanzibar" and he went to SCHOOL in India not too far from Bombay. He PASSED AS WHITE. and its been said in numerous interviews that he may not have been able to "be a star" at that time in the 70s had they known he was not white. so he RARELY told people his real descent. and also changed his name to sound more white. as for being "british" he had a HEAVY british accent as much of the land where he grew up was a british settlement. and he also lived many years in London as well when he reached teenage years. As for Sacha, just because he is british doesnt mean his bloodline is. I am from America, born and raised but my family is from Sicily. Sacha himself looks as though he might have some middle eastern in him. and as for the overbite. i'm sure they will put make up on him to show it. the guy who played Notorius BIG in the movie Notorious last year had to wear a mouthpiece in his top teeth to give him the distint upper lip and lisp that biggie had. Sacha will be a great person for this role. I'm just sad the movie isnt more about freddy's life leading up to his death. from what it says it will be about earlier queen up til 85.

The reason a movie has not been made til now – Queen owns Queen Songs and they (being the intellegent gentlemen that they are) would not give permission for their use til assurd of control of the context. Hollywood has been throwing money at them for years, but without a pressing need for the money (they are multi millionaires) they chose to wait for the appropriate venue, cpmtract with content control.

wow ur all judging a movie that hasnt come out yet an actor who has portraide exactly who he has wanted us too see and who if u have done any research on is brilliant and very talented and who can sing amazing, and a story about a man almost no one knew was gay until he came out so please have an open mind cause most people thought starsky and hutch the movie was gonna be good and it suk major well u know

I think Adam Lambert would have been a much better choice to play Freddy. His character and style of singing reminded me of Freddy even while he was competing on Am. Idol. Cohen strikes me as a bit weird.

I think Cohen has proved over the years that he has the ability to play numerous roles. Although he is better known for his comedy, I think we're all in for a surprise once this movie hits the big screen. One definite asset is the resemblance between Cohen and Mercury. As for the height difference, we have seen over and over in film that today's technology makes an actor's height irrelevant. We're in for a shockingly great movie here.

LMFAO This is going to be a great movie even if an Ass played the part. Who cares. Stop the hate. Freddy Wasn't about hate people. Get over it. If you don't like who's playing the part or what color they are simply do not watch it. But I bet you do. 😉

You people bashing Sacha need to shut up. Everything you think is wrong.
1) look up his movies other than Bruno and Borat. He can act and is a pretty decent singer. Hell. Even with Borat it takes a talented actor to emerse himself in that persona.
2) the casting director, producers, and director of the movie chose him, and they know far more about the industry and what makes a talented actor than you do.

Hey Sasha. DO NOT insult Freddie's Memory ! God knows where Queen would be right now if he didn't Die !
I Hope this is a Serious Movie about his Life. And NOT a Comedy !
And by the way,I HOPE they mention and go into Detail about him being a Zoroastrian ! ( His Religon).
R.I.P. Freddie. We MISS YOU !
The Show Must Go On !
Peace.

Although, I think Sacha Baron will be great portraying the Great Freddy Mercury, I can't help but think that George Michael would be a good choice too. His rendition of Mercury's "Someone to Love" is to die for. Too bad his life is in such turmoil. Anyway, I think this will be a good movie!!

Sasha is talented in what he does – Shock humour that sometimes shows people to be the flawed creatures we are. I don't honestly think he has the capability to capture all that we saw in Freddy and loved. If they had cast this better, I would actually look forward to the picture.

It doesnt matter what the actor looks like or sounds like. the people with the $$$ are going to pick and we wont have any say in the matter. we probably rip the acting and singing and storyline apart and the movie will probably suck as most of these types of movies do. we will still go and see it. the music will be great and i am a fan but i dont think i want to know what freddie was doing on the side, it was probably pretty sad.

Sorry, but as a Brit who has stumbled across this site, I cannot but admire the sheer stupidity of some of the comments! USAmericans are great people, but intelligence was never your finest asset. Anyway, I think Sacha would make a pretty good Freddie, my main concern is that his very strong 'persona' would steal the show and make it into a Sacha film rather than a Freddie one...

Are all of the sbc haters morons? Did any of you think that the remaining members of Queen might have picked him? Now freedy mercury was an icon no-one will ever be able to sing like him, but everyone said the same thing about steve perry from journey, but they found that little Philippine guy. And not to mention did anybody stop and think "how close is the band working with the project?" Probably not! Now I am not one to be a judge of talent but Sasha Baron Cohen, obviously does or he wouldn't even have a career! Adam Lambert, good idea but looks nothing like freddy! Mika, possibly but still no freddy. Although to get SBC into the frame with the other actors they might need to cut him off at the knees....JK

This thread is wacky! No spell check on my blackberry browser...but who cares!?!

I miss you, Freddie. I really do 😦 I hope the Borat guy does you justice, it shouldn't be that hard: Blow it up in stage scenes, and be quiet on other scenes unless he's with close friends. Reminds me of myself.

I'm gonna stick The Highlander in the BluRay player now and smoke a joint to you, Freddie!!!

Actually, Farrokh Bulsara, later to become Freddie Mercury, was Indian and born in Zanzibar. Because Zabzibar was a British Protectorate at the time he was born, he was a British subject. Other than than, they could have chosen someone other than a bafoon like Sasha Cohen to play someoine who had such a large impact on music in the eighties. What a disappointment.

Sacha Baron Cohen is a talented actor IMO. I hope he can do Freddie justice and I will see this movie on the first day. I loved "The Queen" and if this movie is as good as that movie was, Sacha Baron Cohen will be turning down roles left and right.

Wo cares who plays Freddie Mercury? It won't affect us personally and life will move on whether the movie is good or bad. So sorry to see such pathetic responses on here as if people's lives will be ruined by this movie. Queen is a great band with a great lead singer, regardless of what movie is made about them or their lead singer. Get a Life people. This only applies to people who are whining about Sasha and this movie already. I could care less who plays Freddie, won't affect me.

The world lost so much when we lost Freddie. A superior voice and dynamic showman. I still get goosebumps the minute a Queen song comes on. And don't judge yet! There have been quite a few stars who people thought would be great in the role and weren't , and thought woundn't but were. You just can't tell.

You know, folks, there IS a director for this film, and there ARE script writers; just because SBC is acting in the movie doesn't mean he'll be doing the role as Borat. There are also producers who will have invested big bucks into a film they expect to do well. So if you're envisioning crude humor and tasteless jokes just because of Borat, you're wrong.

freddie wasn't all over the top madness, he had a real sprit and a genuine sweetness I hoe they do a good job with this, it is impossible to truly capture as unique a spirit as freddie was but if it is inspired and well done it will be very good to see, I'm glad that they are recognizing him for the truly wonderful human he was, it's kinda surprising in this day when se xuality is made more important than it should be and people of alternative se xuality put down in large parts of the world, freddie was so much more than that, I look forward to seeing it

OMG Now there is now way in H**L I watch this movie when it comes out! I love Queen and I loved Freddy and to have Sasha portray Freddy in the Biography is a disgrace! Shame on everyone who agreed to this! You could have done sooooooo much better than Sash Baron Cohen I mean really!

Really a brilliant move, if it works. Sacha Cohen has the toothie charm to do Freddie, but we'll have to wait to see if he has the acting ability to make a serious movie about such a legend. Hey, who knew that Jennifer Hudson could win an Oscar? I'll wait to see the reviews, but, unless they are really bad, I'll probably see the movie.

I don't care if Cohen can sing or not, no one comes close to the man, the myth, the legend Mercury. I would hate to see anyone try, as they would fail miserably. That being said, I cannot wait for this to come out!

They picked the name Queen because it had a regal sound, I just hope they use Freddie's voice and not sbc. With Brian May and Roger Taylor backing it, and Robert De Niro's production company Tribeca producing it, should be worth a look.

To all you idiots saying Adam Lambert should get the role, get real. Just because Lambert has tasted man meat many times just like Freddie doesn't make him perfect for the role. Lambert is a novelty act who'll be playing at the Flamingo in Vegas before too long.

Getting this idiot actor to play a respectable Rock Star. C'mon! It is the same as having Steve Martin fill in for the Late Peter Sellers in the stupid Pink Panther series....Hollywood films are good for $@#^%#$%@ these days anyway. Produce it, maybe Jessica Simpson can play Freddy's girlfriend....

I'm... not sure what to think of this. I fear Sacha Baron Cohen, I don't want him to make Queen look like Borat. I would find far more comfort in Depp playing Freddie than Cohen. However, that said, if he stays true to the music, I would be sure to enjoy it.

I have to agree that I would not gone with Borat, I am hoping they let those who knew him best have a say in the matter. My own opinion I would have thought maybe Russell Brand he is funny as well as british and can sing. But I think he would pull of the frontman of the band. I sure hope the the guys from the band have a say in it cause its their reps being made in to a movie not just Freddies there is no one that can ever replace him though

Everyone seems to be an expert on who should be playiong him and that a comic just won't do. Anyone ever hear of Micahel Crawford?? He happened to be one of the most hilarious comedians and had his own variety show in the UK for years and they said he supposedly couldn't sing either. If you don't who I am talking about yet, have you evert heard of the Phantom of the Opera? He was the original! And they say he couldn't sing! Give the guy a chance! Plus I don't think that people are going to invest the millions necessary to obtain all of the rights, etc... to not research his talents!

HORRIBLE choice, though I suspect that Freddie Mercury would have enjoyed the idea of Ali G playing him in a movie. Personally, I like the suggestion I saw (on another site) that the singer in the Queen tribute band Killer Queen should be cast instead…

Not a bad choice. There is a resemblance. Freddie was an original and I don't think it would do for a widely known actor to portray him. Cohen has some big shoes to fill. It could be a breakout role for him.

@K–Fire up "Youtube" and type in Queen. Start with "Bohemian Rhapsody", then go to "Fat-Bottomed Girls" and whatever else shows up. Mercury's voice is a thing of legend–I think he was classically trained, and has sung in operas, or maybe just with an orchestra (not sure). Oh, and wish I could tell you that there was just one penultimate Freddy song, but they're all good! Enjoy!

In my opinion his best song was "Killer Queen", 1974 versions. If you're looking up his music videos on youtube then this is when he was thin, had long hair and no mustache. In this song I can't tell what is more beautiful, his voice or his looks, and what charisma. I hope in the movie they focus on the earlier years. But then how could they ever find someone with those looks and that voice. Maybe Johnny Depp with elevator shoes, fake teeth, and long hair (atleast he has the cheek bones) but they would have to have freddy's vocals for sure.

He died because he refused to quit his drug wh oring ways.........If he had straightened up a little, he may have lived a long=er life......Personally I think he was suicidal to begin with but whatever.....

Seriously (to all those complaining)? Who the hell did you want to play Freddie, Daniel Day Lewis? He already tried that look (moustache) in "There Will Be Blood", wasn't his best look. Or did you want the bad guy from "Manos: The Hands of Fate" (Google it) to play Freddie? And Frank Zappa is dead. How many other fairly tall, lean men that resemble Freddie, can act, sing and grow a moustache are there? So instead of saying "They shoulda chose someone else", tell us who you had in mind...so we can all laugh when you say something typical like Matt Damon, Ben Affleck or Tobey Maguire.

And don't say Johnny Depp. Otherwise, they might kick Sacha off the project, fire the director and replace him with Tim Burton, who will turn the biopic into an dreary emo goth "soft-horrorcore" film. And Helena Bonham Carter will play the woman that turned Freddie gay. And Alan Rickman will play Brian May.

I like Sacha Baron Cohen for what he does, and I've been a huge Queen fan since my childhood. But this is going to suck royally, if you'll pardon the pun. Not to suggest that Freddie was some super-serious cat (he mostly certainly was not), but I think he deserves somebody with a little more gravitas, at least. This has "FAIL" written all over it.

What an excellent and obvious choice! Mr. Cohen is an uber-audacious comic genius, looks a hell of a lot like Freddy Mercury and has an English accent to boot. The only people who'd have a beef with this selection are those who feel personally embarrassed by and included in his exposure of the more zoological aspects of American culture.

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, Africa. His parents were Zoroastrians from the Gujarat Province of India. He attended school near Bombay, India until he was 17 when he and his family moved to England. He was NOT British. CNN, please check your facts!!

The relevant part of Zanzibar was a British protectorate, and India was still part of the British Empire when Mercury was born. Therefore, whether by where he was born, or by the citizenship of his parents, he was British.

Very interesting how a bunch of people sitting at home doing nothing are all experts on talent ! The guy is a genius and has more talent in his little pinky than most of you ! Freddy was from tanzania and had and english accent so does Sasha. Well to all you experts in acting and such good luck on your careers going nowhere !

Very interesting how a bunch of people sitting at home doing nothing are all experts on talent ! The guy is a genius and has more talent in his little pinky than most of you !
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I just love how the person who wrote this calls out people who "sit at home" being "experts on talent", and then does the exact same thing, sitting at home being an "expert" on talent by calling him a genius and saying he has tons of talent.

While his brand of humor is an acquired taste (I personally love it) you can't deny his ability to transform. He truly lives and breathes the roles he plays. Freddie Mercury was a genius.....celebrated and tragic at his own hand. I would love to SBC immersed in such complexity.....He should be given the opportunity to prove himself. Jamie Foxx was terrific as Ray Charles and he has also been known for some ridiculous behavior.

The songs are so closely linked and played together, but obviously not the same song. They were released on flip sides of a 45 record (For those under about 30, records were black discs we collected before tapes and cds and mp3s and whatever comes next) when I was a kid. First record I ever owned.

There are many examples of comedians pulling off amazing jobs in dramatic roles. To play Freddie one would have to be very comfortable with their self and not be afraid to put it all out there. I can't say I'm Cohan's bigest fan but I can say that I look forward to seeing how he handles it. If he doesn't get it right then I think a lot of people are going to be upset. There's a reason people don't like covers of Queen songs. Once you've listened to Freddie's version, all else pales in comparison.

Sasha is a good choice, possibly a great choice. But I will not see it. I cannot stand Sasha. I lost any respect I might have had for him when, during the filming of his other movies, he would barge in on real events and cause a spectacle. Bruno actually involved him showing up at a real fashion event and crashing it. I am sorry, those people did not ask for that, they did not deserve that. You do not just walk into another person's show and screw with their presentations and livelihood like that. I hope Queen fans are happy with this movie, but I cannot support Sasha, no matter how good a job he does.

Don't deserve, didn't expect... Etc.
And you know this how? Notice he was never sued? Publicity is just that and if you think none of it was prearranged, you are naive and think reality shows are real. SIGH!

This is going to wonderful. He has the look for it and those of you who think he doesn't have the talent will be proven wrong soon enough. He has just the personality to pull off Freddies stage presence. those of you who think it'll just be crude like Borat obviously don't understand that he wont be directing or creating the characters for the film... mearly acting in it. I think this will be fabulous! Looking forward to it!!!

Sacha is the perfect casting choice. He has an amazing ability to disappear into whatever role he plays – I still can't believe the same actor is both Bruno and Borat and Ali G. His love for the outrageous perfectly parallels Freddie's and his look is quite similar. Sacha is such a committed actor I have to wonder if he'll consider a dental appliance to give him Freddie's trademark overbite.

Finally someone who thinks like me. Everyone who says he's wrong for the role should go watch what he has done before. If they still think he is wrong for the role, then they're ignorant Christian republics.

@DrM.....you are so self-absorbed; get over yourself. People don't have to agree with you, it's their opinion!! I hope if this guy plays Mercury, he'll either keep his nose out of some other guys butt or keep his butt out of the other guys face!!! His type of "acting" or "humor" is crude!!

Brad8888... only you forgot that Adam Lambert is a no talent hack who won a talent show. The only reason anyone has ever heard of him is becuase he is gay!! Cohen will pull this off... just wait and see!!!

Ignoring all the comments above indicating that Adam has no talent, I don't he would be a good casting. They don't look remotely alike and again, not putting down Adam's acting talent, I don't think he can pull it off. Adam does have strut, poise and talent, but it'll still not the same.

@troll killah.... just for you.
im a rhymin superfly and i dont know why, the rhythems come to me until they are one with me, my beat is steady and my posts are aways ready, the troll killah throws his jabs, but his comments suggest he should go to rehab, my days not done, my awesome posting will contine its run.

I'm not sure how ANYONE could sing except Freddie... so I vote for dubbing in his original vocals. Besides, I think SBC will have enough problems trying to talk with that overbite prosthetic in his mouth!

Wouldn't be a bad choice except for the fact Cohen is about 9 or 10 inches TOO TALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Freddie was not 6'5"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they going to shot him standing in a WHOLE for the movie?

Thats like saying a musical performer who wrote songs about dental floss and wet t-shirt contests could never compose and perform classical music. Talented performing artists can transition from comedy to more serious endeavors. Mr. Cohen (in my opinion) has turned in some great performances. I think this upcoming movie is going to be incredible. Zappa forever!

This will be a travesty. Cohen has very little takent; to portray as complicated a character as Freddy Mercury would take a massive compassion transfusion, as well as about 8 years of acting lessons. I'm voting out, just like I've done most of this year and last.

a movie on Freddie will be great but they couldn't find one Indian Parsi actor to play him? there's great talent in the local Parsi theater in Mumbai and they could have found somone but its all about the skin color. Freddie was not British- he was an Indian Parsi- Fredun Balsara was his real name

Tug, my friend, if I knew where you were, I'd buy you a beer. You made the bullseye with your comment. The singer named Freddy Mercury was not British. He was Morroccan and as Tug stated, Ferud Balsara was his name. Not alot of people know that. Now granted Sacha is a good character actor but if you're going to portray one of the most dynamic personas to ever walk this earth, looking like him is a good start.

Are you dooshbags really arguing over his name? Really? What you do, cut and paste from Wikipedia? If the Freddie Mercury biopic was such a big deal they would have made it at some point earlier in the 18 years since he's been dead.

I am so excited to see Sasha play Freddie. Queen is my all time favorite band, and Freddie was an amazing person. I was a 5 year old girl singing to Queen "records" and I have not stopped! Can't wait to see this one!